International Decaux Headquarters
Carretera de Barcelona. Madrid
Carlos Ferrater

A former factory is carefully reconfigured as a corporate headquarters

© Alejo Bague

For more photos click on 'photos & drawings' above. To see the people and products behind this project click on 'people & products.'

The new head office of the street-furniture company International J.C. Decaux occupies a former Martini & Rossi factory. Located in an industrial area on the outskirts of Madrid, this building, created by the architect Jaime Ferrater in the early 1960’s, is protected by the Architectural Heritage Law and consists of a huge vaulted hangar with a structure of arches, a body intended for the administration department, and a series of warehouses and service areas. The architects approached the building with a sense of deep respect for its formal elegance.

A series of non-invasive architectural interventions were undertaken. The internal structure was absolutely respected aside from some modifications to the interior layout and a series of openings in the flat roof to improve the natural light in the area open to the public. The architects rehabilitated the façade, which had been deformed by aluminum window framing by using a special metal frame that fulfills current security and insulation regulations and restores the original look of the glass outer wall. The new entrance, with its cantilevered canopy, erupts into a triple-height lobby, signaling the communications hub of the building and leading to administration and management areas on upper levels of the building.

Location:
Carretera de Barcelona. Madrid

Gross square footage:
103,420 sq. ft.

Total Construction Cost:
$5.22 million

Owner:
J.C. Decaux

Architect:
Carlos Ferrater S.L.
Balmes 145 Bajos
08008 Barcelona
Spain